Brassiere



B. HARMAN Dec. 28, 1948.

BRASSIERE Filed Nov 20, 1947 INVENTOR.

' BERNICE HARMA'N ATTORNEY- Patented Dec. 28, 19

arms 1' OFFlE 2,457,369 BRASSIERE Bernice Harman, Flushing, N. Y.

Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,153

1 Claim. 1 My present invention relates generally to an improved brassiere, and more particularly to a novel and highly improved brassiere of the type whose respective breast sections are conical or cupped. v

Many solutions have beenproposed in the past for the problem of designing the ideal brasslere. As women generally know, the ideal brassiere should provide comfort to the wearers bosom, and in cases where the breast tissues have not been broken down should preserve the tissues and keep the bust from sagging. Further, in such cases where breast tissues have already broken down and the breasts sag, as is common in frequent child-birth, the ideal brassire should correctly support the breasts and build up and restore the tissues thereof. Finally, the brassiere should provide to the wearer, regardless of bust size, a natural and youthful bust line and contour.

In accordance with one object of my present invention there is provided a brassiere constructed ideally to provide the various desired characteristics discussed above; the conical or cupped breast pockets of the brassiere having central circular openings for 'accentuatlon of small busts and minimizing the large bust.

Another object of my invention is to provide a brassiere having its respective breast sections provided with central circular openings whose respective diameters are related in a predetermined manner to the bust size thereby to permit the breasts to protrude through the respective openings in a normal and natural manner.

A more specific object of my invention is to provide any suitable and known brassiere with respective centralcircular openings at the breast pockets whereby each breast is permitted to protrude thereby tending to bring to the front all excess side tissues while concurrently lifting sagging tissue to anupward and outward position.

Other objects of my invention are to improve the construction of present-day brassieres, and to provide brassieres having non-binding central circular openings at the breast pockets thereof which are economically manufactured.

The present invention consists substantially in the construction, combination, location and relative arrangement of elements, as will be more fully set forth, shown in the accompanying drawing.-

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of m invention applied to a. brassiere of the cupped type brassiere, shown in Fig. 1, in extended form;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 1 showing the application of my invention to a brassiere of the conical breast pocket type; and

Fig. 4 shows a portion of the rear face of one of the cups of Fig. 2 to illustrate the manner of p viding the inner cup lining.

Referring now to the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals in the several figures denote similar elements, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the manner in which my improved brassiere is applied to a womans bosom, regardless Whether the brassiere is of the cup type or of the normal cone pocket type. In accordance with the basic concept of my invention any type of known brassiere is provided with respective central circular openings at the frontal or breast pocket, sections thereof thereby to permit the breasts to protrude in the manner, and to a degree, indicated in Figs. 1 and 3. I wish it clearly understood that my invention is in no way limited to the specific brassieres depicted. The term cup or conical is intended to apply to any configuration of breast pocket shaped in that manner.

Considering the cup type brassiere of Figs. 1 and 2, it may consist of the usual construction except for the modification thereof in accord with my invention. The band i, made of a suitable brassiere fabric, such as satin or batis'te is provided with a pair of cup sections 2 and 3. Those skilled in the art of constructing brassieres are fully aware of the manner of emphasizing the bust by cup sections. The numerals d, 5, *5 and 1 denote the respective panels of cup 3 which are stitched to form the cup section. Each panel has, of course, its edges convergent so as to prowearer;

duce the cup, or wide cone, efiect desired. The cup 2 is made up in the same manner, and in Fig. l the conical shape of the cup 2 is indicated.

The cups 2 and 3 are not completed, or domed, according to my invention. Instead they have respective central circular openings '8 and 9 of substantial diameter. The diameters of openings 8 and 9 are equal, and are so chosen that a substantial portion of the breasts protrude or project through the openings. Thus in Fig. 1, which shows the brassiere on a wearer's torso, the breasts l0 and H protrude forwardly through respective openings 8 and 9. The ends of the bod; band I are indicated by numeral l2 and I3, and they respectively terminate in eye strip l2 and hook l3. These attachment devices l2-I3' are conventional, and may be replaced by any other suitable securing device.

The usual shoulder straps I4 and ii are provided, as shown in Fig. 2. The numerals l6 and I7 denote the respective lower and upper finish tapes for the inner face of the brassiere, as indicated in Fig. 2. The modification in Fig. 3, it

will now be seen, differs only in not using cup if desired, with a soft material as described in connection with Figs. 2 and 4.

I prefer to line the inner face of each cup 2 and 3 with a soft fabric lining. However, my invention is not restricted to such a lined pocket. Either pocket, in Fig. 1 or Fig. 3, may be lined or unlined. In the latter case simple tape is used to edge the circular openings. In Fig. 2, which shows the inner face of the extended brassire,

thenumerals and 2| denote the respective fabric linings of cups 3 and 2.. The binding tapes 22 and 23, each stitched as a U cooperate with the adjacent inverted V of the tape H to keep the peripheral edges of linings 20 and 2| in place. The linings 20 and 2| each have a central circular opening which registers with the associated cup or conical opening.

The central lining panel 24 is stitched at its lower edge under tape ||i,while its outer concave edges are stitched under tapes 22 and 23. It will be understood that linings 20, 2| and 24 may be secured, as described, to the inner faces of frontal panels 2 and 3' in Fig. 3.

In order to prevent any binding by the central circular openings 8 and 9, there is provided a special method of securing the peripheral edge of the lining opening to the peripheral edge of the cup or conical opening. In Fig. 4 I have shown the cup 3 with the binding tape ll removed, and the lining 20 cut away to reveal the peripheral edge of opening 9 It will be observed that circular rim of the cup has been stitched at its inner circle to the peripheral edge of the lining opening.

This is readily and simply accomplished by the following method. The lining 20 (this is also true for lining 2 I) is first cut to the desired shape as shown in Fig. 2. Then the lining is taken wrong side up and layed down on the front'face of cup 3, with an overlap circular zone 3|], sewing the peripheral edge of the lining opening to the outer circle of zone 30. After the sewing is finished, the entire lining is turned to the inner face of the cup as shown in Fig. 4. In this way there can be no binding effect at the circle of contact between a breast and the opening of the cup. Hence, in my construction the central circular openings have .the peripheral cup edges 6 turned back around the opening and lined.-

- a It is to be clearly embodying my present invention are put on and worn in the same manner as any other brassire, except that my improved brassire has characteristics not provided by any cup, conical or other brassiere seeking to secure a youthful and natural bust. By the term conical I intend to include all cone-like breast pockets, including the cup" type. My invention is not restricted to any specific brassiere construction, material or s pe. The linings 20, 2| and 24 may be any suit ble soft netting or mesh.

In relating the circular breast opening di eter to the volume of the breast pocket, be it 'a cone or cup, it will be understood that the size of the brassire will determine the diameter of the central circular opening. What is most significant is that the protrusion of the frontal portion of a breast shall be substantial. In Figs. 1 and 3 I have depicted an ideal protrusion to provide normal, youthful and natural busts. The larger busts, of course, require a larger conical shaped brassiere with corresponding breasts to protrude.

This tends to bring to the front all excess side tissues, at the same time lifting fallen tissues to an upward and outward position. It is emphasized again that the central breast openings accentuate the small bust while minimizing the large bust. There will be no sag where muscle walls are not broken down, and even in the latter case the brassiere provides corrective action. Actual wearing experience over a substantial number of months by the applicant warrants the characteristics claimed for the brassiere.

What I claim is:

In a brassire having conical or cupped support and molding breast pockets, each pocket being provided with a central circular unobstructed opening of substantial diameter thereby to provide forward protrusion of a substantial portion of the wearers breasts through the 'respective openings.

BERNICE HARMAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of thispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Dec. 6, 1938 France July 3, 1935 Number Number understood that brasslres 

